Friday, September 30, 2011

BOM's

Here is my October block of the Bible BOM of Jan Patek's. Almost finished!! Let me preface my next rant with this: I've had the patterns for this but decided to do one a month this year because Jan resurrected it as a BOM. It was a good way for me to get it done rather slowly but with a time table. I didn't get a kit sent to me every month.

Rant ahead...... How do people afford a BOM?! I love Sue Spargo's work. She is creative and has brought a fresh and fun look to wool applique and embellishments. I got an email today announcing her 2012 BOM in wool. (I know that is expensive) Finished size 41x43. Your cost if you live in the US? $646.00. I can buy a lot of wool, thread and fabric with that kind of money. I guess I am too tight with a buck to pay that much. I can just about buy an inside cabin on a cruise ship for that price!
Does anybody else besides me think that is crazy?!

Please leave a comment on my last post. You do NOT need a quilt name to leave a comment. I'd love to make a good size donation to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. If you could pass it along that would be great too!!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

AAQI and Giveaway

Here are my two little quilts for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative . I love to make them but have a heck of time coming up with a name for the quilts.
If you leave a comment or send an email with a suggested name for both quilts and I use it I'll send you a prize. (I'll figure that out later, ok?)

Even better than that for every comment left on this post I will donate $1 to AAQI. I do have a limit but cannot even imagine getting close to it. If you are one person you can only leave one comment. We aren't voting for The Biggest Loser or the best singer on American Idol. Just trying to raise money for a good cause.
I started hand quilting this last night. It should be ready to go soon.
I'm looking forward to creative quilt names and lots of comments!!
You do not need to have a name in order to comment.


PS I jsut spotted this on the AAQI site:
The Heartbreak to Hope Exhibit will be in Portland next year! Yay!

Northwest Quilting Expo Portland, OR
September 21-23, 2012
Portland Metropolitan Expo Center
        

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Beyond the Cherry Tree

Gee, I thought I'd be posting more often now that I am home for more than two days in a row. The problem? Nothing too exciting to post about!

I did finish block 23 of Beyond the Cherry Tree. The next section is a border although there is still 2 more blocks to do. I'll prep some leaves and berries, leaves and berries, leaves and berries, than be ready for the border! LOL Did I mention there are quite a few leaves and berries in the border? You can read about the border and see the quilt at

Here's another lovely quilt from the exhibit Beauty Secrets.

So my mom calls me at work this morning, which is fairly unusual. She asks, "Are you picking me up?" I respond, "What would I be picking you up for, Mom?" "To get my blood work done at the clinic."

I have no idea where that came from. She hasn't had to have any blood drawn for months. Oh joy!!



Friday, September 23, 2011

This block went to the Caribbean and back without every having a stitch put in it! Finally DONE! Now to move on to the September block.

This went to the Caribbean and back too!! A few more lines of quilting and it will be ready to bind. I'll move on to the bright version of the same block. I'd like to get them both done before the show in Houston so Ami can take them with her to sell.

I happen to spot this at the grocery store the other day. It has some terrific shops in this issue. None are close to me, but it is fun to see the variety.

I've been enjoying this book. As a matter of fact, this may have went to the Caribbean with me too! LOL

My family at the beach this past weekend. Happy Birthday Rene!

We went deep sea fishing on the Enterprise. Great Captain and deck hand. Nice boat too!


My kids made hubby and I dinner! Wow and yum!!

Have a great weekend.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Beauty Secrets

I made another trip to the coast, this time with my hubby and our two grown kids. It was the relaxing trip I needed after taking my mom.
It just so happened we were driving right by the Benton County Museum where Bill has some of his collection of New York Beauties on display.
I love the use of cheddar on this one.


What a beautiful setting.

A simple and effective display.

I adore this amazing and humble quilt. I never noticed the red at the top. Is it patched?



Even my husband enjoyed the quilts. If you are anywhere close you need to see this exhibit. Thank you Bill!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Not one Bit Quilt Related!

I wanted to thank you who left comments of encouragement on my last post. The trip to the coast with my mom was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I haven't had to spend a lot of time at once with her and now that I have,  I see the toll that Alzheimer's is taking on her. If I had to do that too many times it would be taking a toll on me too!

Look at this beautiful sunset! The day we arrived it was gorgeous.
The next morning my daughter arrived to spend the day with us. We walked to Pig n Pancake for breakfast and passed this window on the way. Do we really need bacon in chocolate?!
Having a little fun in the hat shop.




It is fun to behave like a kid every now and then.

My mom hardly slept at all and I had to sneak out at dark o'thirty to get a run in. Even then she was up- this morning she had locked herself outside without her teeth in. Yesterday I think she just stood outside and smoked until I came back- I don't think she knew how to use the room key (the one that looks like a credit card) Oh my! My mom never used to be such a chatter box either. Well, we both survived.....thank goodness.

I'd sure like to get some stitching done! Have a terrific weekend.



Tuesday, September 13, 2011

AAQI and then Some.

I told you I didn't get much done on my AAQI quilt. On the flight to Orlando I did get this block appliqued. I only ran into two problems. I clipped all my seams ahead of time so I wouldn't have to worry about my scissors being confiscated. There wasn't anything smooth about my applique. It looked pretty rough.


You can still see that isn't isn't really smooth, but I did a machine buttonhole in black to prim it up a bit. I think once it is quilted and washed it should be fine...I hope.


Problem number 2? My applique thread comes on a prewound bobbin, which happened to fall between my airline seat, or under it. I'm really not sure where it went, other then not with me! I did have an end, so I wrapped it around my needle package. Around and around and around......there is a lot of thread on that bobbin! I never did get to the end!!

My mom has been feeling a bit bummed because everyone has gone on vacation except her. (My hubby must not count) Her good friend and neighbor moved to a different complex so she has been really down. I am taking her to the Oregon coast today for a couple of days.

She loves the beach and is so excited!! When I called to make reservations I told them to give me a ground floor doors that open so if she cannot get out and walk much she can sit outside and enjoy the view. I'm pretty sure it won't be this clear when we are there, but I hope we can at least see the ocean. I have to admit I'm not as excited as she is. Conversation with her is difficult at best because of Alzheimer's.  My daughter is coming over tomorrow for the day which should help.  Think good thoughts for me please.
That's my week in a nutshell.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Vintage Quilts

One of our employees and his wife have had to move their mom into an assisted living. They let me know there were quilts in the house.
The colors on this one are BRIGHT yellow- dandelion yellow- although the photo doesn't show it.  What you can't see is one end pretty much in tatters. The wife said her grandmother made it for her and it was on her bed growing up. Because the star doesn't go all the way to the border I told her I could easily fix it if it had sentimental value. Nope, none. These quilts will end up in an estate sale and the new owners will never know who made them.
Here is quilt number 2.
It has a wide age and variety of fabrics.  The wine color of about 1900 is one of my favorites.
Most of this quilt has fabric from the 1930's.
It has a fun pieced back.

And it even has a bit of humble patchwork to it.


I had two more quilts to look at, one a Lone Star in silk that was disintegrating and another top and back that had been taken apart to replace the batting.

I went to her house today because she told me she had found more quilts. One was 2 sided and a little older than these, but lumpy and tied.
I don't have room for every single orphan quilt so I'm hoping they will find a home better then a garage rag.






Friday, September 9, 2011

Consolation Prizes

Pretty terrific for consolation prizes!


This little quilt was sent to me by Christine for supporting her son-in-law in raising money for Bridge to Brisbane.  It is perfect and I've been enjoying it on my coffee table. Thank you Christine.
This was a consolation prize from Paulette's friend Claire (no blog...yet) Aren't these hand dyed wools gorgeous?! A few of the reds came off the bolt because she said she wasn't too happy with her dye job. They are all lovely. Thank you Claire!!!

I think I made it through my huge stack of paperwork. Time to get the sewing room organized since I dropped everything in there after the cruise. I'm itching to get sewing again!!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Girls Just Wanna have Fun...


Kathy, who went on the cruise with our group,  sent me this beautiful photo. I love it! I need to get this framed!! It really captures a beautiful moment.
Can you tell I am still getting choked up about the cruise? One night I started crying at dinner I was so overwhelmed and thankful to be with Bonnie and the other beautiful women in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.
It has happened more then once after being home too!! My son told me to get a grip! LOL





I will have a quilty post in a day or two. I am still trying to get caught up on paperwork. I actually visited a few blogs this morning. As you can see Google reader said I had 256 unread blog posts......Please forgive me if I don't comment or read each one! hahaha

I did a little purging too, please don't take it personal.

I just wanted to let you know I'm still here and will get back to our regularly scheduled program soon!!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

More Blogging Friends

I thought this photo turned out really good but wanted to get permission from Karen before posting it. Yep, this is Karen from Log Cabin Quilter that whips out the most gorgeous projects in no time flat!!

I found out a couple of other ladies had blogs too.
Laurie from Ottawa writes Charmed Creations and Sherry writes Where's Blue Bird.

Bonnie has a great post with pictures of the ship and I've made a blog post on my other blog
Get to Goal. Check them out if you are interested,

I'm barely getting back with "real"life. I sent Bonnie a text this morning, that I really hate cutting up my own fruit in the morning! Geesh, spoiled in only one week. And who knew that one guy and one dog could make a house so dirty- especially the floor. Cleaning is on my list for today.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

A Beautiful Week

Look what we came across in St. Maarten. Let's go in...shall we?

Do you see the caption at the botton of the sign? What a hoot!


Yikes!!
There was some pretty cute fabric, I just wasn't sure how to get a bolt out! Hahahaha

I'm home but will need to catch up a bit. I brought sewing and got one applique block done on the way...that's all.
I had the fun of meeting Regan from Floating on a Quilted Cloud and Suzy from

Before leaving on our trip Karen from Log Cabin Quilter picked me up at the hotel and we went and had coffee before leaving for the cruise. It was so wonderful to meet her. She is been one of my long time readers and very generous to me. She is retired so it was a big deal for her to be up with the chickens to meet me. Neither of us felt we could pass up the opportunity. She was just as wonderful and pleasant as I thought she would be. Thanks Karen for the early morning coffee!!

I would be remiss if I didn't say that Jim West at Sew many Places did an amazing job setting up this cruise. If you ever need some help with travel plans he would be the one to call. I know this won't be my last contact with him!!

Thanks Bonnie, I had a blast!! I would room with you again anytime.

I'm posting some cruise photos to Facebook. You should be able to click on the link and see them.